Ruth 1:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In Jewish tradition, Elimelech, the spouse of Naomi and father to Mahlon and Chilion, is noted as the individual during whose era the sun ceased to shine due to the transgressions of the law. This miraculous event was intended to compel the people to return to the Lord their God. However, because they scorned this call and remained unrepentant, the famine worsened. Consequently, Elimelech, who was esteemed in the tribe of Judah, not only experienced the dire need that forced him, along with his wife and sons, to leave his homeland, but he also continued to face hardship and scarcity in a foreign land alongside his sons.

Bethlehem, located approximately ten versts south of Jerusalem, is a small town whose name translates to "house of bread," likely reflecting the richness of its soil. It is also referred to as Bethlehem Ephrathah, a term that conveys a similar meaning (Genesis 35:16, 19; Psalms 131:6). To distinguish it from Bethlehem in Galilee (Num. 19:15), it is identified as Bethlehem of Judah, in recognition of its association with the tribe of Judah (cf. Judg. 17:7-8, Judg. 19:1; 1 Sam. 17:12). As the birthplace of David, it is often called the city of David (Luke 2:4). The town is perched on a mountainous elevation, encircled by lovely hills and valleys, adorned with lush pastures and fields. Approximately 200 paces to the east lies a cave where it is believed Jesus Christ was born. Within this location, a church and a monastery have been established; beneath the church lies an underground cave that, according to tradition, contained the manger where the infant was laid due to the absence of space in the monastery.